Machine for making theater tickets



Oct. 12, 1943. B. H. FREEDMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING THEATER TICKETS SSheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1940 ATTORN EY 1943- B. H. FREEDMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING THEATER TICKETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1940 'INVENTOR BEA/Jn/w/N H. info/rm ATTORNEY 1943- B. H. FREEDMAN MACHINE FOR MAKING THEATER TICKETS Filed Jan. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 x5... zSzmooo a w Z N WMMH 2 m M m l.- .A W Mm Patented Oct. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,331,316 MACHINE FOR. MAKING THEATER. TICKETS Benjamin H. Freedman, Asbury Park, N. J. Application January 15, 1940, Serial No. 313 820 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved theater ticket or ticket strip, to the machine for dispensing and also in part marking such improved ftheater ticket or ticket strip, and to the method for'dispensing and forming such improved theater ticket or ticket strip.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved theater ticket or ticket strip which will not only conform in length to a multiple of unit areas corresponding to the number of patrons to be admitted on the-ticket, but in addition-also have creases between the adjacent unit areas with alternate creases extending in opposite directions to facilitate fan-folding the dispensed ticket by the doorman.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved theater ticket or ticket strip which will not only conform in length to a multiple of unit areas corresponding to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket,

: but in addition have creases between the adjacent unit areas, with alternate creases extending in opposite directions to facilitate fan-folding the dispensed ticket, with the crease between the two first unit areas dispensed always facing outwardly relative to the main face of the ticket, and with scorings along the edges of the ticket strip intermediate the creases to enable the door-- man quickly to detect the direction of the fanfolding, all in the interest of speeding up the fanfolding of the ticket received prior to tearing the same into two sections of stub areas, one reserved for the theater and the other reserved for the patron.

It is still another object of the present invenfolding but also registration of transversely extending incisions in the middle of each unit area, to facilitate tearing a fan-folded group of tickets in the middle in registration with such incisions, and also having means for scoring the strip along y its longitudinal edges to aid the doorman in fantion to provide an improved theater ticket or ticket strip which 'not only conforms in length to a multiple of unit .areas corresponding to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, but in addition, will have transversely extending incisions at the sides of "the middle of each unit area and creases between adjacent areas extending in alternate directions to facilitate fan-folding the dispensed ticket by the doorman with the transversely extending incisions of successive unit areas in registration, with one another to facilitate simultaneously tearing the group of unit areas into their respective stub areas.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved machine having means for dispensing a theater ticket of conventional size having unit areas of about one inch wide by two inches long, having in addition means to form creases between adjacent unit areas in opposite directions, to facilitate not only fanfolding the group with the main faces of the unit areas facing outwardly for all strips having even numbers of unit areas, and at least one main face of the unit areas facing outwardly for all strips'having odd numbers of unit areas.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for dispensing a ticket strip containing one or more successive unit areas of conventional size such as one inch wide by two inches long, having feed pin receiving holes between adjacent unit areas, and notches at the ends of divisions between adjacent unit areas, transversely extending incisions on the sides of the middle of each unit area, drawing the strip of unit areas as it is being discharged, forming creases in the divisions between adjacent tickets with alternate creases extending in opposite directions with the first crease extending upwardly relative to the main face of the ticket strip, and forming scorings or knurled lines along the opposite longitudinal edges of the unit areas before finally discharging the ticket strip initially discharged.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved method for forming a ticket strip of the type disclosed in my copending application for patent, to issue as a patent on January 16, 1940, Patent No. 2,187,685, characterized by having each ticket divided into two stub areas distinguished from one another by color and other marking, with the stub areas of like color adjacent to one another, and forming creases in the strip along the divisions between adjacent tickets so that the stub areas of like color may be grouped together and torn into their respective groups of stub areas.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a ticket strip of the type disclosed in my aforesaid application for patent, having each ticket area divided into two stub areas distinguished from one another by color and possibly some other marking, one stub area reserved for the theater and the other stub area reserved for the patron, with the stub areas of like color adjacent to one another, characterized by forming feed pin receiving openings in the divisions between adjacent unit areas, forming notches at the ends of the divisions between adjacent unit areas, forming incisions in the divisions between stub areas of each unit area, forming creases in the divisions between adjacent ticket areas, the alternate creases by the creases further to aid the doorman in manipulating the ticket strip properly to fan-fold it along its creases.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention residing in the ticket and ticket strip, in the machine and in the method, will appear from the sub-joined detail de-- scription thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmental transverse section of a machine made according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section similar to that shown in Fig. 1, slightly enlarged and particularly showing the control for the auxiliary ticket strip advancing means;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section of a portion of the control illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail of a portion of the lower feed roller illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1--1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan of the end of the ticket strip before a dispensing operation is brought into play;

Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views of strips composed of one, two, three, four and five ticket areas respectively;

Fig. 15 is a perspective of a group of five ticket areas such as illustrated in Fig. 14, fan-folded preparatory to being torn into their respective stub areas; and

Fig. 16 is a perspective of the fan-folded group shown in Fig. 15, tom into its respective stub areas.

According to the present invention, the means for predetermining the length of ticket to be dispensed and for initially feeding and cutting a ticket of a predetermined length is similar to that disclosed in the patent to Reuben H. Helsel, No. 2,103,720, issued December 28, 1937, which comprises a pair of side plates 2-2 suitably connected by cross members in a general fashion common to this art. A plurality of units are intended to be arranged side by side within a casing (as indicated in Fig. 2) to issue tickets of various denominations. Between the side plates there is located an intermediate supporting plate 4 which carries or aids in the support of various operating elements. Suitable guiding means for the ticket strip are provided, including members 5- forming a channel approaching the feeding pinwheel and a fixed member I and movable member 9 adjacent the pinwheel designed to maintain the ticket strip in engagement with the pins and lead it past the severing knives.

Extending across the various units so as to be common to all of them, there is a shaft 6 carrying a number of pinions 8 equal to the assembled units. The shaft 6 is driven through a suitable reduction means, either gearing or belting, from a motor which is carried by the housing for the units. Each of the pinions 8 engages a gear I in the corresponding unit and through such engagement effects the drive of the unit.

- The gear 10 is jouraalled on a pin H extending between'the side plates 2 and has secured to it a toothed clutch member indicated at I2. The teeth of the member I2 are designed to engage the laterally turned end H of a bell crank I6 which is pivoted at Ill upon a cam member H4 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 18 to bring its turned end I4 into the path of the teeth of the member l2. When 'the machine is in its stationary condition illustrated in the figures, a pin 20 on one of the arms of the lever I6 is engaged with the end of a lever 22 having a nose 24 under which there is engaged the end of a latching lever 26 pivoted upon a pin 28 extending between the side frame members.

The lever 26 is provided with a cam following extension indicated at 30.

The latching lever 26 carries an arm 34 which underlies a plate 36 pivoted in the frame at one side as indicated in Fig. 2. Above the plate 36 and guided through slots in various frame members there are a plurality of key rods, one of which is indicated in the drawings at 38, in Fig. 2. The others are of similar type, being suitably offset at their upper ends to provide any desired arrangement of the keys. In all cases these keys are constrained to move vertically in contact with the right-hand arm of a U-shaped member 54.

Each of the key rods 38 is provided with an opening 40, see Fig. 1, through which there normally projects an ear 42 formed on a corresponding selector member 44. Assuming that five tickets are to be issued as the maximum in a cycle of operation, there will be five key rods and five selector members 44 pivoted upon the pin 46 and individually urged in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 by springs 48. Each of the selector members is provided with a camming projection 50 designed to be projected through a corresponding slot 52 in the left-hand arm of the U-shaped member 54, which is spaced from the left-hand side plate 2 to pmvide a channel 56. When any of the keys 38 is operated by being depressed, its engagement with the ear 42 of the corresponding selector'member 44 will rock that selector. member in a clockwise direction, projecting the camming projection 50 across the channel 56. After this action occurs, the key will be moved further downwardly and a solid portion of the key bar will be opposite the ear 42, effectively locking the selector member 44 in its new position. It will accordingly retain such position until the key is raised.

Returning now to the drive, there i secured to the cam H4 an eccentric 58 which operates within an elongated slot in a yoke 60 pivoted at 62 to the left-hand side plate. The yoke at its upper end is connected by a, link 64 with a pin 66 which is guided for rectilinear movements within a slot 68 formed in the left-hand side plate. Pivoted on the pin 66 is a bar 10 which is provided with a bevelled forward end 12 designed to engage and ride up the camming projection 50 of any of the selecting members which happens to be in its clockwise position due to key actuation. The bar 10 carries a roller 14 arranged to be engaged by a lever 16 along the upper edge of which it may roll. A spring 18 urges the lever 16 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 11 so as to initially bring a nose thereof within one of a series of slots (in the present case five) in a member 82 which is pivoted upon a pin 84 and which is secured to a pinwheel 86 ing with a stationary blade I32.

having five pins 88 arranged to engage perforations in a ticket strip to advance the same in the delivery operation. A pinion 98 also secured to the pinwheel and member 82 meshes with a gear 92pivoted upon a pin 94 and carrying a toothed member 96 designed to be engaged by a nose I84 of a detent member I82 pivoted at I88 to the frame and urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring I86. The detent member I82 carries a cam following roller I I8 arranged to ride upon and be actuated by a cam II2 secured to the cam I I4. The bar I8 is provided with a series of teeth 98 designed to engage the teeth of the pinion 96. The bar I8 is normally held, when the machine is stationary, in the position illustrated so that, upon lengthwise movement of the bar I8, the teeth 98would clear the teeth of the pinion 96.

The cam I I4 to which reference has been heretofore made is designed to act on the pair of follower rollers II6 and 8 carried by a lever I28, which is pivoted at I22 and connected through a link I24 with a knife-operating lever I26 to the upper end of which is pivoted a pusher I28 engaged with a movable knife I38 cooperat- A spring I34 pulls the pusher I28 downwardly and so holds the movable blade I38 in tight cutting relationship with the fixed blade I32, which it overlaps.

In each of the units there is pivoted at I38 a plate I36 underlying the arm 34. Each of these plates I36 has extending toward the right through the right-hand side plate an ear I48. In .the case of the left-hand unit the ear I48 overlaps the plate I36 of the unit to its right (see Fig. 2) and so on until, in the case of the most-right-hand unit, the ear I48 overlaps a pin I42 controlling a switch within a housing I44. The pin is urged upwardly by a spring shown at I46 effective to hold contacts I41 away from contacts I49 when no unit is operating and thus open the motor circuit. When the pin I42 is lowered by depression of the plate I36, the switch the plate I36 to bring its tail above the lever end I58 and either directly or through intermediate plates I36 closes the switch I44 by depressing the pin I42 against the action of spring I46, which is a light spring incapable of moving the key upwardly becauseoi the substantial friction involved due to the pressure of the selector member 44 upon it because of the action of its spring 48. The parts so far moved, therefore, unless additional pressure is applied, will retain the positions indicated. Upward movement'is further resisted by the fact that the end of the latch lever 26 will now lie to the left off the nose 24 of lever 22, which will prevent its clockwise movement until substantial force is applied.

The motor will now drive the shaft 6 and consequently the clutch I2, imparting counter-clockwise rotary movement to the cams I I2 and H4 and the eccentric 58. The cam II2 immediately acts upon the roller II8 to withdraw the projection I84 of the detent lever I82 from between is closed and actuates the motor, serving to drive the assembled units. It will be obvious that due to the overlapping of the successive plates I36 by the ears I48 the depression of a key in any of a series of assembled units will effect closure of the switch and starting of the driving motor. A lever I48 pivoted on the same pin 28 as carries the lever 26 is provided with an end I58 designed to engage a tail portion of the plate I36 for the purpose hereafter described. The lever I48 is provided with a follower extension I52 arranged to be engaged by the cam H2. The cam II2' performs a triple function, acting upon the roller H8 and the follower ends 38 and IE2 of the respective levers 26 and I 48.

Assuming that a single ticket is to be issued, th operator will depress the most forward key 38, which i the one shown in Fig. 2. This. will rock its corresponding selector member 44 to cause the projection 58 thereof to extend across the channel 56. The depression of the key beyond the position causing the opening 48 to clear the car 42 willlock the selector member in such position to cause it to resist a mechanical thrust to which it is later subjected. The depression of the key will also depress the arm 34, causing the'latching lever 26 to move out from beneath the end of the lever 24 and thus release the pin 28 on the clutch leverIG. As a result, the end I4 of thi lever will be moved into the path of the teeth of the member I2 by the action of the the teeth of the pinion 96, thereby releasing this pinion for movement. The eccentric 58 also begins the counter-clockwise movement of the yoke 68, thereby driving the bar I8 toward the left. During the initial portion of such movement, the rack teeth 88 are held out of position to engage the teeth of the pinion 96. The movement just described takes place without engagement of the rack and pinion until the bevelled end I2 of the bar 18 engages the projection 58 of the selector member 44 which has been actuated. The lefthand end of the bar is then cammed upwardly and the bar i caused to swing about its pivot pin 66, which is being guided within the slot -68 with the result that the roller 14 will force during the further leftward movement of the bar 18 will drive the pinion and rotate the pinwheel 88 to feed the ticket strip. In the case just described, when a ticket for a single patron is issued the left-hand movement of the bar continues only sufiiciently to move the pinwheel through a peripheral extent corresponding to the length of a single ticket such as the ticket 288 of Fig. 10, the movement ceasing when the eccentric 58 reaches its forward dead center position.

It will now be obvious how tickets of varying lengths are issued. The length issued depends upon the movement of the rack in engagement with the pinion before the forward dead center position is reached. The length of ticket is determined by the delay before the rack engages the pinion, which delay is determined by the position of the selector member 44 which has been actuated. If a length of ticket for five patrons is to be issued, for example, the rack is engaged with the pinion almost immediately after i the forward movement ofthe bar I8 begins, while intermediate lengths of tickets involve suitable delays prior to the engagement. In any event, the total length of ticket to be issued will be projected past the knives I38 and I32 during the left-hand movement of the bar I8.

Adjacent the left-hand dead center position a substantial rotation of the eccentric 58 will take place without any appreciable movement of the bar 18 when lost 'motion is considered. During this period the cam II2 will engage successively the follower ends I62 and 30 of the levers I48 and 28. Engagement with the first causes the projection I 60 to engage below thetail of the plate I26 so as to prevent its rising even though the arm 84 is raised, thus maintaining the switch closed and themotor operating. The cam II2 engaging the follower end 30 of lever 26 will cause arm 34 to be forcibly raised, moving the plate 86 upwardly and raising. the depressed key bar and permitting the selector member 44 to again assume its counter-clockwise position with the ear 42 projecting through the hole 40. As a consequence of this action, the forward end of the bar 10 is released by the projection 60 of the selector member 44. This action preferably occurs just prior to the dead center position of the eccentric 68, and in order to avoid noise and eiiect also accurate positioning of the pinwheel, there is prevented the immediate upward movement oi. the bar 10 by reason of the fact that the projection 80 of the lever 16 is riding upon the periphery of the member 82 and consequently will not raise the bar 10 immediately. However, as soon as suiiicient further movement takes place to bring one of the notches in the member 02 adjacent the projection 80, the projection will fall into such notch and the bar 10 will be rocked counter-clockwise under the action of the lever 16, disengaging the teeth 88 from the pinion 86.

After this occurs, the roller H is released by the cam H2 and the pinion 86 is locked in fixed position by the detent I02. The detent I02 is provided so that the cam action between I04 and the teeth 86 may accurately align the ticket strip to bring the portion to be cut into alignment with the knives.

The clockwise movement of the lever 26 may take place because oi. the fact that its end applies a thrust to the end 24 or the lever 22 in a direction laterally of the pivot oi. lever 22, which is thereby caused to be rocked clockwise against the action of its spring 25 to bring its lower end into the path of the pin 20 on the clutch lever I 6 to ultimately disengage the clutch and stop the operation.-

The reverse movement of the bar now occurs. The rack teeth 88 move rearwardly, clearing the pinion 86. During this reverse movement the cam II4 acts upon the rollers H6 and H8 to impart first a cutting movement to the knife I and then a retracting movement to clear a passage for the next advance of the ticket strip. It will be seen that when a plurality of tickets is issued the cutting will take place at the end of the series, so that the plurality will be issued in a single strip.

As the end of the cycle of rotation is reached, the levers 28 and I48 are released by the cam II 2. The release of the lever 28 merely permits it to be later rocked by a key actuation. The release of the lever I48 withdraws the projection I60 from beneath the plate I 36 so that the spring I48 can hit this plate I36 and the associated plates and also open the motor circuit. At the same time the pin 20 will be engaged by the lower end of the lever 22, causing the end I4 01' the lever I6 to rock out oi. the path of the teeth of the clutch member I2. The engagement of the pin 20 with the end of the lever 22 determines the initial position of the parts.

The ticket strip 20I illustrated in Fig. 9 shows a strip of tickets prepared according to the present invention before being advanced through the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. This strip is shown as having been cut into the several tickets 200, 202, 203, 204 and 205 illustrated in Figs. 10 to 14. The strip 20I is shown as having successive ticket units 206 and 201. The ticket unit 206 shows its advanced edge 208 as cut straight to indicate that it is the end of the strip 201 after a ticket containing the immediately preceding ticket unit bearing the serial number 41,631 has been cut off. This strip 20I consists of a succession of ticket areas 208, 201, 208 and so on. defined from one another in part while in the machine by the pin receiving openings 208, and in addition, by the printed border portion 2I 0 and the pairs of notches 2I I and 2I2.

'Iheborder line 2I0 of each ticket, as for instance the ticket 208, extends parallel to the longitudinal edges of the ticket 206 and parallel to the notched sides 2I I and 2| 2 and down between the notches 2II, 2I2 and the pin receiving openings 208, being interrupted by the openings 209.

In addition, each ticket unit, as an instance the ticket unit 206, is divided into two stub areas 2|: and 2 distinguished from one another by color, the stub area 2I3 in the present instance being colored red, and the stub area 2I4 being colored white. Furthermore, along the outer edge of the division between the stub areas 2I3 and 2| 4, there are formed the incisions 2I5 and 2I6, and each stub area is preferably provided with the pictorial portrayal or marking of a pointing hand, such as the marking 2" on the stub area M8, and the marking M8 on the stub area 2I9, pointing to the incisions 2| 5 and 2I8 respectively, with the notation adjacent thereto reading Doorman tear here."

The arrangement of the stub areas of the successive ticket units 206, 201. and 208 is such that the stub areas of like color are adjacent to one another, as an instance, the stub area 2I4 colored white of the ticket unit 205 is disposed adjacent to the white colored stub area 220 oi the ticket unit 201, and the red colored stub area 22I of the ticket unit 201 is disposed adjacent to the red colored stub area 222 of the ticket unit 208.

Still furthermore, as shown in my co-pending application for patent (Serial No. 313,156, filed January 10, 1940), each stub area is provided with a distinctive symbol, the stub area 2I4 having a red colored square 223 corresponding to the background color of the stub area 2I3, and the stub area 2I3 has a white colored square 2 formed thereon corresponding to the background color of the stub area 2.

The improvement forming a main part of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 not only scores or knurls the longitudinally extending lines 225 and 226 on the tickets as they are dispensed, but in addition forms a crease such as the crease 221 in the boundary between the successive ticket units 228 and 228 of the ticket unit 202 illustrated in Fig. 11. The crease 221 as shown in Fig. 11 faces upwardly from the main face of the ticket 202. It will also appear from Figs. 12, 13, and 14, considering the right hand end of the ticket has the advanced end as it is dispensed, that the crease between the first ticket unit and the second ticket unit dispensed always faces upwardly relative to the main face of the ticket, see for instance the crease 230 between the ticket units 23I and 232 of Fig, 12, the crease 233 between the ticket units 234 and 235, and the crease 236 between the ticket units 231 and 238. As will appear from Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the alternate stance, the crease 239 between the tickets 232 and 248 extends downwardly away from the main face of the ticket proper. In Fig. 13, the crease 24l between the ticket units 235 and 242 extends downwardly while the crease 243 between the tickets 242 and 244 extends upwardly, and in Fig.

14, the creases 245 and 246 extend downwardly while the crease 241extends upwardly.

With tickets so scored or knurled and creased. in the first place, the fan folding of two or more ticket units is facilitated, the crease, as an instance, the crease 221 of Fig. 11 indicating to the doorman the line along which the ticket should be folded. In the next place, with the crease between the two first ticket units alwaysfacing upwardly, the main face of the ticket when fan folded will be exposed. In the next place, the knurled lines 225 and 226 being interrupted where the crease 221 appears, such knurled lines further aid the doorman in properly folding the ticket, since the doorman in many poorly illuminated lobbies must rely upon his sense of touch to detect the creases, such as the crease 221, and its direction, and obviously the more pronounced the difference in surface conformation at the edge of the ticket as compared to the remainder of the ticket area, the more easily and quickly this edge, such as the crease 221 will be located. And finally, the incisions, such as the incisions 2l5 and 2I6 of successive tickets will all register with one another, see Fig. 15, to facilitate tearing a group of ticket units into their respective stub areas, see Fig. 16, with all of the stub areas of like color separated into a group. Such incisions H5 and 216 cooperate with the knurled lines, such as the knurled lines 225 and 226, in that the knurled lines will accentuate the incisions, that is, part the opposing edges to facilitate locating such incisions by the sense of touch, since if the knurled bands deflect the opposing edges of the incisions, even slightly, the opposing edges of the incisions will be sensible to the touch as compared to a condition where the opposing edges lie in the same plane before being deflected.

In the machine, in order to form the scored or knurledlines 215 and 216, and the creases such as the crease 221, see Fig. 11, a housing 248 is mounted on the side plates 2 above the knives I38, I32 with guides 249 and 258 to receive the ticket as it is discharged by the pinwheel 86 and advance it into the engagement with the feed and marking rollers 251 and 252 mounted on shafts 253, 254, respectively, journalled inthe housing 248 from which the ticket is advanced out through the mouth or opening 255 formed in the housing 248.

The lower roller 252, see Fig. .5, is shownas provided with two annular bands of knurling teeth 256 and 251. and axially extending male and female dies 258 and 259 respectively for engagement with the ticket strip 281 being fed and for cooperation with similar annular bands of knurling teeth and complemental oppositely extending female and male dies 268 and 261 on the roller 25!.

The roller 25! is drivingly connected with the roller 252 by the gear 262 on the shaft 253 in mesh with the gear 263 on the shaft 254. The shaft 254 in turn has fixed thereon the bevel gear 264 in mesh with the bevel gear 265 on the vertically extending shaft 266 journalled in the bearings 261. and 268. The bearing 268 also serves as an abutment for the stop 269 having a pin 218 formed thereon to cooperate with the thread 211, on the shaft 266. The thread21l and stop. 269 are set relative to one another by the pin 218' so that in final at rest position, the stop 269 will engage the abutment 268 and in thehighest position of the stop 269, the shaft 266 will have completed approximately two and one-half rotations. I

The lower end of the shaft 266 has keyed thereon the clutch element 212 having an' annular recess 213 to receive a pin on the bell crank lever 214 pivoted at 215 and provided with a spring 216 normally to press the clutch element 212 into clutching engagement with the floating clutch element 211 having secured thereto the annular casing 218 having two parallel discs 218 and 288 disposed above and below the casing 218 with registering slots 28| and 282 therein to receive the shanks of the clutching roller 283 which cooperates, see Fig. 6, between the cam face 284 and the outer cylindrical face 285 of the collar secured on the shaft 286 journalled in the bearing 281. The outer face of the cylindrical portion 21.8 has ratchet teeth 289 formed thereon to cooperate with the check pawl 298 to prevent return movement of the casing 218 after it has once come to rest. The discs 219 and 288 are preferably secured to rotate as a unit having a pin 29l extending through a slot in the casing 218 and extending in opposite directions from the opposite sides of the two discs 219 and 288 which ends of the pin 291 are connected by the springs 292 with the pins :293 mounted on the casing 218. The pins 293 extend through slots 294 in the discs 219 and 280, the arrangement being such that when the discs 219 and 288 are free to rotate, the springs "292 will press the roller 283 into engagement-with the cam face 284 in turn to press it into frictional engagement with the cylindrical surface 285. These discs 219 and 288 are normally maintained against the tension of the springs 292 by the teeth 295 engaging the projections 296 on the shaftg291. The shaft 291 has a pin 298 thereon traveling in the cam groove 299 of the bracket 388 containing the journal 281. The shaft 291 also has a stop 38l at its lower end between which and the lower end of the bracket 388 there is tensed the spring 382 normally to maintain the'shaft 291 in lowered position where its pin 298 rotates the shaft 291 so that its projections 296 will clear the teeth 295 of the discs 219 and 288.

The device aforesaid for actuating the rollers 25| and 252 will be normally maintained at rest when the machine is at rest and only released for operation when the shaft 291 has been lowered to clear the teeth 295 and the bell crank lever 214 has been released to lower the clutch element 212 into engagement with the clutch element 211. The shaft 291 and bell crank lever 214 are normally maintained in raised position. by cooperation with extensions on the rack bar 18. This bar, see Fig. 3, has a ledge 303 to engage the lower face of the roller 384 at the end of the lateral extension 385 at the upper end of the shaft 291. Extending from the other face of the bar 18, seeFig. 3, there is provided a finger 386 which, see Fig. 3, in the final at rest position, engages the plate portion 381 of the bell crank lever 214 to rock it about its pivot 215 and raise the clutching element 212.

In the course of operation, after a key 38 has been depressed, the bar 18 will start moving to the left initially to release the bell crank lever 214 and then to release the roller 384. Synanother.

gage the advance edge of the first ticket unit with the female die 25! and male die 26I of the rollers 252 and 25I in substantial engagement with one The continued rotation of the rollers 25I and 252 will cause the dies 258 and 260 of the rollers 252 and 25I to engage the end of the first ticket unit dispensed so that an-upwardly inclining crease such as the crease 221 shown in Fig. 11

is formed. 'I'hereupon, if the key selected corresponded to dispensing a length of ticket strip for more than two, say three ticket units, the rollers I and 252 will continue to rotate and feed out the ticket strip so that at the end of the second ticket unit, the dies 250 and 26I will have come into engagement with the ticket and form the downwardly extending crease, as an instance the crease 239. If the. key selected corresponds to a four-unit length of ticket strip, then the rollers will of course continue to rotate another half cycle to form the upwardly extending crease, see the crease 243 of Fig. 13, and the rollers 25I and 252 continue to rotate another half cycle fully to discharge the four-unit length of ticket strip 204.

So that this feed will correspond to the substantially harmonic feed performed by the bar I0, an especially designed cam such as the cam 308 is provided which is fixed on the pin II to rotate with the gear [0. The cam surface of this cam 308 engages the cam follower 309 at the end of the arm 3I0 of the lever 3I I pivoted at 3I2 and having an arcuate rack 3I3 at its other end to engage the gear 3 on the shaft 3I5 which has fixed thereon a bevel gear 3l6 in mesh with the bevel gear 3II secured to the lower end of the shaft 286. The cam follower 303 is maintained in engagement with the cam 308 by the spring 3I8. This cam 308, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, has an initial accelerating zone, a second decelerating zone, a third dwell zone, a fourth Or final feed zone, and then a return zone to return the cam follower 303 to, its starting point.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the bar 10 will not declutch the shaft 286 until after the ticket has been cut by the knives I30 and I32 and the rollers 25I and 252 have at least formed the final crease.

After the shaft 286 is so declutched from the shaft 266, then the spring 3| 3 secured at one end to the frame 320 and at the other end to the shaft 266, is free to rotate the shaft 266 in the return direction until the stop 269 again engages the abutment 268 where the rollers 25I and 252 will again assume the normal at rest position shown in Fig. 3 ready upon the next operation again initially to form an upwardly extending crease such as the crease 221 between the first two tickets dispensed.

The knurling dies on the rollers 25I and 252 such as the bands 256 and 251 on the roller 252, besides forming the knurled bands on the ticket as aforesaid, also act as positive gripping or traction elements topick up the ticket and advance it after it has been discharged by the pinwheel 86 cut by the knives I30 and I32 and moved into a position where the knurling bands on the rollers 25I and 252 can engage the ticket. From that point on, the two rollers 25I and 252 serve also to eject the ticket from the housing 248 into a partly exposed position where the theater patron may take hold of it and remove it entirely from the housing 248.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of the ticket, ticket strip, machine and method constituting the present invention without departing from the general spirit thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a theater ticket strip feeding means for dispensing tickets-corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding in number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, selectors, means for operatively associating the feeding means with said selectors to feed a length of ticket strip corresponding to a predetermined number of unit areas, severing means operatively associated with said feeding means to sever a length of ticket strip corresponding in length to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, means operatively associated with said feeding means for advancing the ticket stripped by said feeding means a distance corresponding to the length fed by saidfeeding means, creasing means operatively associated with said advancing means simultaneously to form creases between adjacent, unit areas of the strip so fed as they are advanced by said advancing means, and means associated with said advancing means for forming knurlingbands on the unit areas intermediate the creases as they are advanced by said advancing means to facilitate locating the creases by the sense of touch of a doorman or ticket collector.

2. The combination of a theater ticket strip' feeding means for dispensing tickets corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas correspondingin number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, selectors, means for operatively associating the feeding means with said selectors to feed a length of ticket strip corresponding to a number of unit areas, severing means operatively associated with said feeding means to sever a length of ticket strip corresponding in length to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, means operatively associated with said feeding means for advancing the ticket strip fed by said feeding means a distance corresponding to the length fed by said feeding means, creasing means operatively associated with said advancing means simultaneously to form alternate creases between adjacent unit areas of the strip so fed in opposite directions with the crease between the first two unit areas advanced always extending upwardly from the main face of the ticket discharged, and means for restoring the creasing means to normal inoperative position at the end of each operation to insure forming the crease between the first two unit areas advanced always to extend upwardly from the main face of the ticket discharged.

3, The combination of a theater ticket strip feeding means including a pinwheel having means to engage the feed pin receiving openings formed between successive unit areas to dispense tickets each corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, selectors, means for operatively associating the feeding means with said selectors to feed a length of ticket strip corresponding to a predetermined number of unit areas, severing means operatively associated with said feeding means to sever a. length of ticket strip corresponding to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, rollers operatively associated with said feeding means for advancing the ticket strip fed by said feeding means, female and male creasing dies on said rollers cooperating with one another and the ticket to form creases in the ticket between successiveunit areas of the strip so fed as they are advanced by said advancing means, and knurling band dies formed on said rollers for forming knurled bands on the unit areas intermediate the creases as they are advanced by said advancing rollers to facilitate locating the creases by the sense of touch of a doorman orv ticket collector.

4. The combination of a theater ticket strip advancing means for tickets being discharged each ticket corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding in number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, the successive unit areas being divided into stub areas succeeding one another lengthwise of the strip and having incisions at the edges 'of the strip registering with the divisions between the successive stub areas of each unit area, creasing means associated with said advancing means simultaneously to form creases between adjacent unit areas of the strip so advanced b said advancing means, means associated with said advancing means for forming knurling bands on the unit areas and crossing the incisions interrupted by, and intermediate of, the creases, as the unit areas are advanced by said advancing means to facilitate locating the creases by the sense of touch of a doorman or ticket collector preparatory to folding the strip into a package, and the knurling bands deflecting the opposing edges of the incisions to facilitate locating the registering incisions of the successive unit areas by the sense of touch of a doorman or ticket collector preparatory to tearing the package into its respective stub areas.

5. The combination of a theater ticket strip advancing means for tickets being discharged, each ticket corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding in number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, creasing means associated with said advancing means simultaneously to form creases between adjacent unit areas of the strip so advanced by said advancing means, and means associated with said advancing means for forming knurling bands on the edges of the unit areas interrupted by, and intermediate of, the creases as the unit areas are advanced by said advancing means to facilitate locating the creases by the sense of touch of a doorman or ticket collector preparatory to folding the strip into a package.

6. The combination of theater ticket strip advancing rollers for tickets being discharged, each ticket corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding :in number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, male and female dies on said rollers simultaneously to form creases between adjacent unit areas of the strip so advanced by said rollers, and knurling bands on the edges of said rollers for forming knurling areas on the edges of the unit areas interrupted by, and intermediate of, the creases, as the unit areas are advanced by said rollers to facilitate locating the creases by the sense of touch of a doorman or ticket collector preparatory to folding the strip into a package.

7. The combination of a theater ticket strip advancing means for tickets being discharged each ticket corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding in number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, the successive unit areas being divided into stub areas succeeding one another lengthwise of the strip and having incisions at the edges of the strip registering with the divisions between the successive stub areas of each unit area, creasing means associated with said advancing means simultaneously to form creases between adjacent unit areas of the strip so advanced by said advancing means, means associated with said advancing means for forming knurling bands on the unit areas and crossing the incisions interrupted by, and intermediate of, the creases, as the unit areas are advancedby said advancing means to facilitate locating the creases by the sense of touch. of a doorman or ticket collector preparatory to folding the strip into a package, and the knurling bands deflecting the opposing edges of the incisions to facilitate locating the registering incisions of the successive unit areas by the sense of touch of a doorman or ticket collector preparatory to tearing the package into its respective stub areas, said creasing means forming an expressed or embossed crease between the upper faces of the first two ticket units discharged, and means'for restoring the advancing means to initial position after completing the discharge of any ticket so that the crease intermediate the first two ticket units discharged may always be expressed or embossed rela ive to the upper faces of such ticket units.

8. The combination of theater ticket strip advancing rollers for tickets being discharged, each ticket corresponding in length to a multiple of predetermined unit areas corresponding in number to the number of patrons to be admitted on the ticket, male and female dies on said rollers simultaneously to form creases between adjacent unit areas of the strip so advanced by said rollers,

and knurling bands on the edges of said rollers crease intermediate the first two ticket units discharged may always be expressed or embossed relative to the upper races of such ticket units.

:IBENJAMIN a, ransom. 

